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Updated: May 7, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Forces on a saltating grain in air
Zhen-Ting Wang1, Chun-Lai Zhang, Hong-Tao Wang
1State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, P.R. China, wangzht@lzu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A wind tunnel experiment was performed to measure the trajectories of individual sand grains. Then, the acceleration given by the numerical differentiation was used to assess the relative importance of different external forces on a saltating sand grain in air. It is reconfirmed that the gravitational force and drag are the most important to grain motion. The lift also has certain influence. However, the present research does not support that the electrostatic force is significant.
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